Marine tether anchoring device

Abstract

A releasable marine tether connection comprises a tether having a segmented spring collet which can be expanded to become trapped in an anchor chamber. A spigot is provided in the base of the chamber which urges the plug upwards relative to the collet when the tether is pushed into the chamber to make the connection. To release the connection tension is removed from the tether and the plug moved down to allow the spring collet to close and move out of the chamber.

We claim: 
     
       1. A marine tether anchoring device for use with an anchoring chamber having a neck portion, comprising a tether provided with a hollow segmented first spring collet adapted to be inserted into the neck portion of said chamber, said first collet having adjacent its extreme end an inner enlarged cavity, an intermediate section of diminishing width between said cavity and a hollow passage through said first collet, a locking plug extending along said hollow passage and having an end of increased width arranged to be located in said enlarged cavity in a first position, and means for moving said plug between said first position and a second position when said plug engages the intermediate section to open out said first collet and provide a securing of said first collet in the anchoring chamber, said anchoring device further comprising a first slideable sleeve in the neck portion of the anchoring chamber, said first sleeve having a second spring collet, provided with a load ring at its lower end, and which can be expanded to be securely engaged in an uppermost position in said anchoring chamber when tension is applied to the tether, and a second slideable sleeve within said first sleeve and surrounding said hollow segmented first spring collet, said second sleeve extending to a locking ring arranged to engage between said load ring and outer parts of said intermediate section, in which said load ring can be forced outwards to release said locking ring when said first slideable sleeve is in a lowermost position. 
     
     
       2. A marine tether anchoring device according to claim 1, in which said means for moving said plug between said first and second positions comprises a spigot, said second sleeve extending beyond said locking ring to support and locate said spigot so that it is arranged to move the locking plug from said first position to said second position when the anchoring device is pressed towards the bottom of the anchoring chamber.